Scarborough climber dies in New Hampshire

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Scarborough climber dies in New Hampshire

Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 8:20 am

SCARBOROUGH — An experienced Scarborough rock climber fell to his death July 12 at Cathedral Ledge in North Conway, New Hampshire, apparently after preparing to descend a cliff he had just climbed solo, a state official said.

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Brian Delaney, 56, fell about 65 feet from the top of Barber Wall, a well-known part of Cathedral Ledge, said Alex Lopashanski, a conservation officer with New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Lopashanski said several members of the Mountain Rescue Service recognized Delaney when they answered the rescue call. He had climbed in the region for decades, and one of the older guidebooks of Cathedral Ledge gives special thanks to Delaney.

Delaney had climbed the Wall, and people on the cliff saw him top out. He climbed while rope soloing, meaning he was attached to a rope if necessary to arrest his fall. He was probably preparing for a descent when he fell, the conservation officer said.